Never drifted from development path despite Centre withholding dues, created 2 cr jobs: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that the state never drifted from its development path in spite of the Centre withholding its dues in crucial schemes involving rural upliftment.

She claimed that her government has generated employment for two crore people during her 14-year rule, and an additional one crore jobs will be created in the future.

Presenting the report card of 14 years of the Trinamool Congress government, barely months ahead of the 2026 assembly polls in the state, Banerjee said West Bengal topped the country in MGNREGA job allocation and constructions in rural housing and village roads four times in a row, before the Centre withheld money.

''Despite that, we launched our own schemes to continue with those projects by mopping up our own resources. Now, yet another election is knocking at our doors, when will the Centre clear our dues?'' she asked.

Taking a potshot at the newly elected NDA government in Bihar, Banerjee said, ''In Bihar, they distributed Rs 10,000 among women before the assembly polls and mobilised bulldozers after the elections got over. In our state, women have received Rs 60,000 under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme every year for the past five years.'' Stating that over 2.2 crore women in West Bengal currently receive Lakshmir Bhandar aid, the CM said that the state government has spent over Rs 1 lakh crore on the Khadya Sathi food security scheme, covering over 9 crore people; and Rs 1,717 crore under Duare Ration (doorstep delivery of subsidised food) to 7 crore people.

She said due to poverty alleviation initiatives in 2013-23, an estimated 1,72 crore people were brought over the Below Poverty Line (BPL).

''Don't twist my comments. Don't create memes distorting my words. I wish you communicate the message appropriately. We will come to know if you add a different spin to the figures quoted by me. I know there are propaganda machinery by forces in Delhi,'' she said in an apparent message to a section of media assembled there.

''We have enhanced budgetary allocation in the state's health sector by six times in the last 14 years,'' she said.

Claiming that West Bengal now serves as a model in various fields for the rest of India, especially in rural development and the MSME sector, Banerjee stated that the state currently ranks second in the country in attracting foreign tourists.

The CM said while the Deocha Panchami coal block and corridor will generate one crore employment, a sum of Rs 35000 crore have been spent for setting up the Bengal Silicon Valley where over 2 lakh people are working already.

''The 93 lakh MSME units employ around 1.3 crore people,'' she said adding the state witnessed Rs 45,000 crore investment in real estate.'' ''Rs 1 lakh crore business was generated in the recent Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal which had been conferred the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Status and attracted lakhs of domestic and international tourists,'' she said.

The CM announced launching 211 medical vans fitted with ICCU for which Rs 130 crore was spent adding it was under the 'Swasthya Bondhu' scheme of the health department.

She said despite the Centre holding back sanction under rural housing projects under 'Banglar Bari' scheme of the state, 67,69,000 dwelling units have already been constructed with about 1 crore houses to be built in a timeframe.

She said despite the Centre withholding funds for road construction in West Bengal, a sum of Rs 19,400 crore have been mobilised by the state itself under 'Pathasree.' ''Even after the Centre stopped fund allocation, we built 60,000 km road in rural areas on our own. Altogether 1,80,000 km roads were built by state in both rural and urban areas,'' she said.

The CM said despite the non-release of MGNREGA funds, 70 days work have been generated under the state's Karmashree project.

A total of 31,77 lakh workers have been given Rs 5,000 each, she said.

''We have Rs 1,87, crore as dues from the Centre and despite several reminders, we are yet to get a single paisa. Don't they know the amount allocated for a year, has to be spent in that year itself? As the financial year will end in March and elections are approaching, we can see through their motive,'' she said in a jibe at the BJP government at Centre.

Banerjee said with Centre's lack of response to improve the infrastructure in Gangasagar area, a bridge was being built at the expense of Rs 1700 crore with tender issued.

Alleging prices for chicken-duck feed has been raised by other states, Banerjee accused the BJP of doing politics about the price of eggs and claimed eggs were being exported from Bengal to 12 states.

She accused BJP off plotting to stop the landmark 'Duare Ration' project which benefitted 7.41 crore people and incurred an expense of Rs 1700 crore.

Banerjee also called for inclusion of workers in informal sector - from restaurant employees, shop salespersons to rickshaw pullers and taxi drivers in the Khadya Sathi and Swasthya Sathi schemes.

She said by giving pattas to tribals and indigenous communities her government ensured none can displace them.

Emphasising, her government is committed in development of minorities, she said ''We don't discrimination between castes - general caste, obc, sc, st communities.

''We are committed in uplift of 4.15 crore minorities,'' she said while reminding that Urdu has been given recognition as the official language among others like Alchiki and Nepali.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)